¬†The Church of England is considering legal action against computer giant Sony, after the company featured Manchester Cathedral in a violent war game. The game: 'Resistance: Fall of Man', shows lifelike images of hundreds of soldiers being killed during a gunbattle inside Manchester Cathedral. The Church of England says Sony did not ask for permission to use the cathedral and has demanded an apology and the removal of the game from shop shelves. The Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Revd Nigel McCulloch, said the decision to feature the city's cathedral was "highly irresponsible" ≠ particularly in the light of Manchester's history of gun crime. Every year a candlelit memorial service is held in the cathedral in those killed through gun crime. He said: "For a global manufacturer to re-create one of our great cathedrals with photo-realistic quality and then encourage people to have guns battles in the building is beyond belief and highly irresponsible. "Here in Manchester we do all we can to support communities through our parish clergy. We know the reality of gun crime and the devastating effects it can have on lives. It is not a trivial matter." The Dean of Manchester Cathedral, The Very Revd Rogers Govender, said: "We are shocked to see a place of learning, prayer and heritage being presented to the youth market as a location where guns can be fired. "This is an important issue. For many young people these games offer a different sort of reality and seeing guns in Manchester Cathedral is not the sort of connection we want to make. "Every year we invite hundreds of teenagers to come and see the cathedral and it is a shame to have Sony undermining our work." David Wilson, a Sony spokesman, told The Times: "It is game-created footage, it is not video or photography. "It is entertainment, like Doctor Who or any other science fiction. It is not based on reality at all. Throughout the whole process we have sought permission where necessary." In a statement last night, Sony said: "Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is aware of the concerns expressed by the Bishop of Manchester and the cathedral authorities... and we naturally take the concerns very seriously. "Resistance: Fall of Man is a fantasy science fiction game and is not based on reality." The company said it would be contacting the cathedral authorities today "to understand their concerns in more detail". Sources: BBC/Sony/CoE